Wildfires in western, northern Alberta trigger air quality warnings for some regions

CBC News

· Posted: Jun 07, 2025 12:40 PM EDT | Last Updated: June 7

Wildfire fume has sparked the nationalist upwind bureau to issue air prime warnings astir the region of Grande Prairie and the northwestern country of Alberta, and aerial prime statements for overmuch of bluish Alberta.

Parts of cardinal Alberta, peculiarly the greater Edmonton area, are besides expected to acquisition mediocre aerial this weekend, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada's (ECCC) air prime wellness index, which measures however harmless the aerial is to breathe.

The Alberta Wildfire dashboard shows respective out-of-control fires around the Alberta-B.C. border, including 1 that forced the County of Grande Prairie successful occidental Alberta to grow an existing evacuation bid Friday evening.

The Sousa Creek occurrence successful the High Level Forest Area is inactive retired of control, spanning nearly 39,600 hectares arsenic of 8 a.m. MT Saturday, the dashboard shows. The flames are burning conscionable southbound of Chateh, Alta., astir 660 kilometres northwest of Edmonton, and forced Dene Tha' First Nation to evacuate radical surviving determination connected May 29.

The ECCC air prime warnings accidental wildfire fume is causing mediocre aerial prime and reduced visibility successful those regions.

The bureau advises radical successful those places to bounds their clip outdoors, including rescheduling oregon cancelling outdoor sports oregon events.

The greater Edmonton area, including places similar Fort Saskatchewan and Drayton Valley, are expected to acquisition precocious hazard aerial prime passim the  weekend, the ECCC air prime wellness index shows.

The City of Edmonton activated its utmost upwind effect for mediocre aerial prime Saturday morning, it announced successful a quality release.

The response, initiated erstwhile the scale forecasts 7 retired of 10 oregon higher for 2 consecutive days, is meant to assistance "vulnerable people" enactment safe. It's presently expected to past until 9 a.m. Monday, but it can beryllium extended if needed.

Open city-owned facilities, specified arsenic recreation centres and libraries, are disposable to radical who request a interruption from smoke, the merchandise said, adding that immoderate of those facilities besides connection escaped N95 masks and bottled watter.

Red Deer, Alta., a metropolis astir 140 kilometres southbound of Edmonton, could besides spot mean hazard aerial Saturday, which could worsen Sunday, the aerial prime wellness scale shows.